The End

My Uganda experience is now complete. I fly tomorrow morning to Europe. The last picture is probably the most important, water flowing from a tap. The project is not complete yet but we now know it definately works. About a month of construction left but all the taps should be on within a week. I am happy to be making my way home but it is sad to be leaving this place. All good things must come to an end and it is time for a change. For me, the fire fighting season starts in less than a month.

Overland: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Nairobi, Kenya

While in Bahir Dar a couple weeks ago I met a guy named Dave from South Africa. He had driven from S. Africa to Egypt with his daughter in his Land Rover. She flew home and he is on his way home. To fill the empty seat and reduce his fuel costs he has been giving rides to backpackers. I was the second and filled the seat for 6 days from Addis Ababa to Nairobi. It was a 1,800 kilometer drive, with about 600km unpaved through the Northern Kenyan desert.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia







The night before we left we chewed a bunch of chat, a mildly stimulating local plant. The guy on the right is Johan, the guy who drove with Dave through Sudan





We drove through Shashemene, the home to some 200 Rastafarians who were invited back to Africa from Jamaica by Emperor Haile Selassie in 1963





The start of the rains came after the long dry season in Southern Ethiopia and it was already far greener than when I was here 2 weeks previous. A typical dwelling





As we got further south in Ethiopia the landscape changed. Far less vegetation and very red earth. Lots of termite mounds as well, reminds me of Northern Australia





As we descended into Northern Kenya we left the rains and entered the desert. Not so much the stereotypical desert of sand (except a few sections) but very hot, very dry, and very little vegetation. Not many people either and certainly the worst stretch of road on the drive



About halfway through the desert there is a town called Marsabit where we spent a night. It is on a plateau about 1,000 meters above the desert and therefore has different climate, ie gets lots of rain. The morning during the heavy rain as we headed back down towards the desert we came across this truck. They couldnt get it out so they leveled out the piles of aggregate for road repair to allow us to pass


This guy probably would have been better to stay out of the ditch during this very heavy rain






Back into the desert, lots of camels around







Typical mode of public transport in Northern Kenya, riding on top of cargo trucks






We startled a pack of vulcars on the road. I couldn't see what they were eating but I could definetely smell it






A typical camp set up - Dave slept in the Land Rover and I slept in the tent. We camped 5 nights and got rain on 4 of those nights. This night, when I had good shelter, no rain!








We camped near the base of Mt. Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa and one of the few with glaciers. Had a good view in the morning while the clouds cleared





Crossing the equator in Kenya










Nairobi, Kenya

Ethiopia - Gondar & Lalibela

The tour of old churches and castles is now over. Monday I start the 5 day, 1,800km drive from Addis Ababa to Nairobi. Gondar is the site of the Royal Enclosure, a bunch of 17th century castles. Lalibela is home to a bunch of rock hewn churches from the 11th century. Both were incredible and well worth the trip.

I thought this rock formation on the drive from Bahir Dar to Gondar was pretty cool









This is the largest castle at Gondar and also the best persevered. Former home to King Fasilada









Some other castle structures. The Italians unfortunately plastered the library (in the center) for some reason, maybe preservation





Debre Selassie church in Gondar. 18th century with original artwork






The ceiling of the Debre Selassie church







St. George rock hewn church in Lalibela










This shows best how the church were constructed: The rock was excavated from around them, they are the natural bedrock





More rock hewn churches










This one is cool because it is 3 stories high and excavated all the way around with a bridge connecting the entrance






This one had probably the best exterior. Amazing considering it is the natural rock - don't screw up!